Author's note: Posted a side story thing. It's called 'The Other Side', please check it out. Also, might take a while for the next chapter to get written 'cuz of work. In the mean time, I'll probably write little snippets and scenes for The Other Side.
Four
May 16th, M.E. 756 – En Route to the Treaty Signing Room, Citadel, Insomnia, Cavaugh, Kingdom of Lucis [Evening]
Stella strode across the hallways beside Regis. Under her cloak, she was battle ready. Potions, Ethers and Elixirs stocked up. An Amethyst bracelet on her left wrist and a Black Choker around her neck. She may not be a match for Ardyn but she knew she could match General Glauca. She would not let her father or Nyx die. Not if she could help it.
"It is still not too late for you to evacuate, Stella." Regis said as they continued to walk.
"I will not leave you to fend danger alone." Stella scoffed. "I swore to challenge fate. This is my battle as much as it is yours."
Regis pursed his lips but said nothing. They arrived at the meeting room and Stella froze for only a step when she recognized who sat at the farthest end on Niflheim's side.
Ravus.
She forced herself to not react and she saw that he was avoiding looking at her. How could she forget? Ravus had been so consumed by his lust of power that he had worn the Ring of the Lucii, destroying his arm in the process. She pursed her lips. Another thing she had to try to prevent. She couldn't let him get that daemon arm. Discretely, she felt her father brush his hand across hers in comfort as he passed her. She gave him a quick smile before schooling her expression into a mask of indifference.
The earpiece buzzed with activity as the Kingsglaives reported in. She clenched her fists, hoping and praying that none of her friends within the Kingsglaives were traitors. She listened intently to the reports coming in, waiting for the moment the Glaives managed to recover Luna, all the while hoping her friends would come back safe and sound.
"Target confirmed. She's unharmed." Came Pelna's voice.
Here we go. Stella stood with her father, clenching her fists so tightly she could feel her nails digging into her palm. She casually raised one hand as if to brush away her hair, but moved her fingers across the earpiece. Tapping it in an order to be cautious. There was an Ultros on the Imperial ship that housed Luna, which she had told to the Glaives. Killing it would prove to be difficult if her friends are too busy fighting traitors. Hopefully, Nyx would have spread word among those he trusted about the possible traitors. Turning off the communicator, she turned her full attention to her father and Aldercept.
"A warning to the victim. Never show weakness, lest you forgo the hand of justice." Her father reasoned.
"Oh no, good king. Far from it." Aldercept denied and Stella prepared herself. "It is a warning to the hand of justice itself never to lose its grip."
Aldercept and his Niflheim entourage brandished their guns and Stella summoned her weapons alongside Regis, taking aim at those opposing her. She focused on her own battle and pushed her worry for her friends to the side. She had done all she could for them, all she could do now was trust in them and hope.
Stella felt it when the Wall fell. Her heart stuttered from the sudden release of powerful magic. She winced at the sudden pain that raked through her body, but held her guard. She didn't know why she reacted to the Wall breaking down but she couldn't afford to dwell on it. She remembered this part from her memories clearly.
"The crystal will not serve you." Regis warned.
"Nor you... Once I take it from this accursed city." The Emperor sneered.
Magitek soldiers crashed into the meeting room through the windows and Stella pulled on her magic, conjuring a Protect spell around the Lucian side of the room. She and the others glared as Aldercept smugly exited the room escorted by the MTs as they fired their guns at the shield, preventing them from giving chase.
Her father cast a lightning spell at the soldiers, disabling them and Stella lowered the Protect spell. She turned to the nobles. "Your families have already been evacuated. There is an escape tunnel in Golden Alley, near the restaurant I frequented with Cor in my childhood. Go, now."
"We will not abandon you here, your highness!" The nobles protested, indignant at the thought of running away without their sovereign.
"We should escape while we can, Stella." Clarus urged instead and Stella shook her head.
"No, Clarus." Regis corrected and turned to the broken windows. "I fear escape is no longer an option for us."
As if on cue, General Glauca fell into the room, landing lightly and blocking their exit. Stella seethed, seeing the man that had killed Sylva Nox Fleuret. The woman had been kind and something of an Aunt for the short few weeks her family had stayed in Tenebrae. Stella moved to stand guard in front of her father and Clarus and behind the other nobles, glaring fiercely at the Niflheim General.
"Stella, leave now with the others." Regis ordered, keeping his eyes on the armoured man.
"I told you I would challenge fate, dad." Stella gave and summoned all her weapons, letting it circle around her much like Noctis's future armiger. "This is me spitting in its face."
With that, Glauca charged at them. At the last second, Stella cast a powerful Reflect and caused the General to stagger backwards. Immediately taking the opportunity, she charged at him with a sword. He blocked her and she put all her strength into grinding their swords and preventing him from throwing her back.
"All of you leave now." Stella ordered through gritted teeth, pushing against Glauca and forcing him to hold his position.
"Princess –"
"There is time for your battles but now is not it. Live to fight another day." Stella barked. "Leave!"
The advisors hesitated only for a moment, turning to look at Regis. When the King only nodded at Stella's order, they hastened to leave the room. Firing spells and fighting their way through the MT troopers that had been left by Aldercept. Stella held onto engaging Glauca long enough for the nobles to reach the elevator, at which point she smirked and released their sword locky, only to quickly slam a Firaga into the General's mask, hastily flipping away when her opponent swung his sword in an attempt to decapitate her.
"I see you've gotten more than a little practice while you snuck out, Stella." Clarus praised lightly and charged at Glauca.
"More than just a little." She muttered and joined him, double teaming against Glauca and driving him back with each swing.
Glauca jumped up to avoid them and dived for her. She parried his attack with her swords and Regis blasted lightning, followed quickly by a mighty swing of Clarus's broadsword. Unfortunately, Glauca parried the attack and jumped towards Regis. The King summoned his own weapons, holding Glauca at bay. Taking the advantage, Clarus charged again only for Glauca to swing out his arm suddenly making Clarus stagger. Glauca grabbed the Amicitia shield and threw him at the wall.
Stella panicked, remembering the scene vividly from Alice's memories. She warped herself to a perch just as Clarus slammed against the wall and threw her weapon just in time to counter the broadsword thrown by the General that would have caused the Shield's death. Acting quickly, she threw her dagger and warped quickly to catch Clarus as he fell. Their shared weight made them crash harshly against the floor.
Stella felt her head knock against the destroyed table and cursed, hoping that the fuzz that had suddenly overtaken her mind was not a concussion. She could hear the sounds of her father defending against Glauca and scrambled to drag a groaning and probably concussed Clarus to relative safety within the room.
The sounds of weapons falling to the ground drew her attention to the stilled battle. She gasped when she saw her father clutching kneeling and clutching at his hand.
The ring!
Abruptly, she felt her heart fall at the sight of Ravus holding the ring.
No.
"I lost my mother, my country, my birthright. Niflheim was the only life left to me. But all of that was for this. The ring belongs to me now." Ravus raged and prepared to slip the finger on his ring.
"Ravus, no!" Stella screamed out, scrambling to get up and prevent her friend from putting on the ring.
Too late.
At the next second, just as Nyx and Luna arrived in the hall, Ravus screamed out in pain as his arm burned blue. She watched in horror as Ravus writhed on the floor.
Ba-thump
Sorrow. Disbelief. Regret. Rage. Her emotions spiralled out of control and she watched in slow motion as Glauca turned to her father and Luna started running towards him, Nyx following suite. Ravus. Still writhing in pain on the floor surrounded by the bodies of MTs. Her father, kneeling and twitching in pain of losing his fingers.
No.
Ba-thump
She would not fail!
Ba-thump
Energy filled her very being, familiar magic coursing through her. Her green eyes glowed purple as she directed her magic to her hands and shot out an over powered Thunder spell. The blast shot the General through the walls, leaving only traces of her spell and debris in its wake. Stella gasped as she collapsed to her knees, her eyes blown wide as she realized how weak she felt now.
She could barely hear Nyx's voice yelling her name through the ringing in her ears. Gasping for breath, she noticed how low her magic reserves were. They were filling up, but very slowly. She could not even muster the magic needed to form a simple fire. But… she also felt strong. Like her reserves had expanded in the last few seconds. The well of magic she had gotten used to seemed deeper, more potent and she didn't understand what was going on.
She felt herself being lifted, draped over a shoulder and made to walk. With effort, Stella opened her eyes, not realizing she had closed them, she saw that it was Clarus. Looking around, she realized they were in the hidden elevator that would stop at a hidden passageway to the parking lot. Nyx looked angry but worried for her as did Clarus. But Luna and her father… they looked at her with a deep sorrow in their eyes.
"What…?"
Luna opened her mouth but paused and closed it with a pained grimace. Regis shook his head sadly and turned to Clarus. "Remember my words, Clarus."
Clarus looked regretful but closed his eyes and nodded. "Yes, my King."
Regis turned to Nyx. "I ask of you Nyx Ulric, not as an order from a king to his glaive. But as a father. See to Stella and Lunafreya's safety to Altissia."
Ba-thump
"No!" Stella yelled, finally realizing what her father was planning. "I am not leaving you!"
"Stella…" Regis pleaded softly.
"No! I promised to challenge fate. Your fate was to die today but I will not allow it!" Stella shook her head, struggling to stand on her own. "I won't let you die! Not when Noct – ugh!"
"Stella!" Nyx caught her before she could fall to her knees.
"You have done enough." Regis told sternly, yet still maintaining the soft quality of his voice. A tone he only used for his children. "Many fates were to end today but you changed that. However, you cannot save everyone, Stella."
"But what is the point to my efforts if my family is broken?!" Stella screamed at her father, tears gathering and obstructing her vision, her heart clenching in pain. "If you die and then Noct fulfils his destiny, where will I be?!"
"You are challenging fate simply by existing, my daughter." Regis assured, his good hand reached out to cup Stella's cheek and wiping away her falling tears. "Hidden at the back of the Tomb of the Wise is a staircase that can only be accessible to you. Go there and you will find your own destiny."
Ba-thump
Stella shook her head, confused as to why her father was telling her this. "What…?"
"Your… circumstances were pre-ordained. Much as Noctis's destiny was." Her heart stuttered at his explanation. "I had hoped that you would be spared of the God's cruelty but –" He cut off with a choked cough.
"Dad!" Stella yelled out, finding strength to support her father with Nyx's help as he fell forward. Her thoughts racing but her worry and fear for her father's life pushing those thoughts away for now.
"I have said too much…" Regis mumbled. "Go to the Tomb, Stella. Find your answers there."
Even though she was confused, she nodded in acquiesce. "Okay. I'll go. I'll go."
Regis gave a smile, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth. "I am so proud of you, Stella. Aulea too would have been so happy to see the woman you have become. I love you, star light of my sky."
Stella choked on a sob, almost seeing her mother's own smiling face beside her father.
"I will always love you, star light of my sky."
The elevator rumbled just as it opened. The group of five moved quickly towards the exit, Clarus leading the way, followed by Nyx, Luna and Stella who was holding onto Regis's hand as she pulled him with her, not wanting to leave him behind with his limp. However, as they crossed the circled room, Regis pulled his hand away from her.
Not expecting it, Stella had already taken a few steps forward before turning to look at her father. A proud look of fondness and affection and regret and Stella knew what he was going to do.
"No… No!" She cried and rushed forward but Regis had already lifted his hand and raised a barrier between them. Stella shook her head, her palms pressed against the warm shield made from her father's magic. "No! Please, dad, no! Let me try. Please, let me try!"
Regis gave a bitter sweet smile and turned to Luna who watched with sorrow in her eyes. "I know your mother would wish the same as me. That you and Noctis live happily. All those years captive because I failed you. Not again. Locked doors will seal your fate no longer."
"King Regis…" Luna pleaded, shaking her head. Stella laid her forehead against the barrier, tears running down her cheeks. Clarus stood at her side, looking pleadingly at his old friend.
"Clarus. I am grateful for your support throughout these years. You have been a true friend to me. A brother. I leave all else in your hands. Pass my message to Cor, Cid and Weskham. Take care of them."
"Always, Regis." Clarus accepted, tears falling at his friend's farewell.
Regis turned to Nyx. "Our hope goes with you now, Nyx Ulric. Godspeed."
Nyx pursed his lips and nodded, grabbing Luna and ushering her towards the passageway.
Regis met Stella's tearful green eyes with resigned shoulders and a soft smile. "Walk tall, my daughter."
"Stella, we must go." Clarus said softly, gently taking her arm and pulling her away.
Desperately, she looked into her father's eyes one last time. Taking in his blood smeared face and gentle smile. Her father who had loved and accepted her even after telling him of her reincarnation. Her father who would not live past this night.
"I love you, dad." She whispered to herself and to him, before allowing Clarus to pull her away.
Regis's smile widened and he turned away from her, ready to face Glauca one last time, his heart heavy with guilt but alight with hope.
May 16th, M.E. 756 – Parking Lot, Citadel, Insomnia, Cavaugh, Kingdom of Lucis [Night]
Clarus and Stella arrived just as Nyx and Stella were about to get into a car.
"Wait!" Stella called out and moved towards another car and popping open its trunk. Grabbing the bag that she had prepared, she shoved it at Nyx. "Take this. I packed some money and potions for you."
Pulling out her phone, she looked through the reports from the various Crownsguards and Hunters that were part of the evacuation plan. Cursing softly at the reports that most of the nearby tunnels entrances had been collapsed already as a safety precaution in case Niflheim forces or daemons tried to chase after the citizens.
"Most of the nearby tunnels are closed already…" Stella muttered as she read through the reports. "But it looks like the roads to the South gate is still alright. Head there."
"Alright. Let's get moving." Nyx announced and got into the car, Luna following suite.
"Luna, do you have the ring?" Stella questioned, not moving from her spot beside the car.
"I do." She clenched her hand tightly around the ring.
Stella breathed in and nodded. "Take care and good luck, Luna. May the Gods watch over your journey."
Luna looked up at her from inside the car, as did Nyx. The glaive had an angered expression on his face as he realized what Stella was going to do. He shook his head, glaring at his friend with gritted teeth.
"What are you talking about? You're coming with us!" Nyx demanded.
Stella shook her head and took a step back. "There is still one fate that I must change." Yours. "I cannot fail in this as I did with the King."
"You can't save everyone! You –"
"But I will damn well try, Nyx!" Stella yelled back, shutting down any other arguments as she glared at him, eyes flashing purple as her emotions rolled inside her. "Don't worry about me! I made a promise to you. To Crowe, to Libertus, to the Kingsglaives. I promised you I would return your homes to you and I intend to keep that promise! I will not die here. I refuse to. I will live past this night and fulfil the promises I have made."
Nyx shook his head, not wanting to abandon his sworn Princess and friend. Luna stared at Stella, tears in her eyes. The revelations she had found tonight were staggering, but she could see the sorrow and determination in Stella's eyes. She knew that her friend needed to do this. To fulfil her own promise to herself. To challenge fate every step of the way.
After all, challenging fate had always been Stella's duty just as much as calling on the aide of the Astrals for Noctis was Luna's duty.
"I understand…" Luna gave in.
Stella smiled lightly in thanks to Luna. "I will meet you in Altissia. I promise." To save you. I will save you, I swear it.
Luna accepted that. "I will hold you to it."
Stella turned to Nyx. "Nyx…"
Nyx heaved a tired sigh. "… I got it. I'll make sure Lady Lunafreya gets to Altissia."
"… I promise to come home if you promise to come home too." Stella gave with a small smile, pushing back her fear of failing and keeping her tears at bay. "I want to watch the fireworks on New Year's Eve with you, Crowe and Libertus again."
Nyx gave a cocky smile back. "It's a date, Princess."
"Good luck." Stella wished them and stepped back as Nyx raced out of the Citadel with Luna. She heaved a sigh and glanced at Clarus, who stared at the hidden passageway. "You should go. Gladio and Iris will be worried."
"I had thought I had said my final good byes to them and yet…" He turned to Stella. "I was supposed to die tonight wasn't I? You saved me from my 'fate'"
Stella eyed one of her father's closest friends and confidants. Clarus had always been an uncle to her and he was among the people that she didn't want to see dead other than in her memories of events she had already changed.
"Did you expect me not to?"
Clarus chuckled. "So much like your father."
"I'll take pride in that."
"You should." Clarus agreed easily, then shook his head in fondness. "What is our next course of action, your highness?"
"Killing General Glauca before he manages to kill someone else important to my heart."
"…It is Nyx Ulric's fate, isn't it? The fate you are trying to challenge next."
Stella stayed silent, giving Clarus the answer he needed. "I will follow you –"
"You don't need to –"
"I failed." Clarus talked over her loudly and Stella clicked her mouth shut. Clarus stared into Stella's eyes, conveying his grief and sorrow. "I failed to protect your father, as was my duty as his shield… Allow me to protect you to fulfil my own promise to an old friend."
Stella wanted so much to order Clarus away. She had saved him, a person that was close to her. She may care for her people but there was a difference in saving the people she loved and the people she cared about. But seeing the resolve in Clarus's eyes, she knew she could not persuade him to leave.
She could only hope she could protect him as she fought.
"Alright. But only interfere if I can't handle it. You don't have magic anymore, Clarus. Be careful." She relented and turned towards the passageway, hearing the heavy foot falls of General Glauca. As she readied her weapons, her eyes flashed purple.
No more deaths. Gods have mercy on my loved ones.
Ba-thump.
May 16th, M.E. 756 – Parking Lot, Citadel, Insomnia, Cavaugh, Kingdom of Lucis [Night]
Let it be said that Stella loved her fire. Fire was her go to element when it came to magic and was the element she had the most experience manipulating. When she had first learned to wield elemental magic from her father, she was ecstatic. Who wouldn't be when you were a pyro, cryo and electro all in one?
Safe to say Cor hated her that one month she used nothing but creative ways to cast fire in their spars.
Which was why when General Glauca revealed himself, Stella shot off a small area wide Firaga from afar and made the cars near him explode. Ignoring Clarus's mutter of how that was a waste of perfectly good cars, she proceeded to fire her lance, Longinus, at the still burning area where Glauca was.
When her weapon was deflected, she cursed. Just what was with that armor? She needed to weaken it enough to get him out of it then. Gripping her preferred weapon, the Tri-Edge that Cid had modded for her, she readied her stance as did Clarus with one of her broadswords.
Glauca walked forward, ignoring the flames licking at his armor. Stopping right out of the range of the fire, he looked around.
"Playing decoy, Princess Stella?"
"You just killed my father and you think I would run away?" Stella scoffed. It was a lie of course. She didn't want to kill Glauca for vengeance. She wanted to save Nyx. "You won't be getting anywhere near Luna."
Glauca was silent and lowered his head in respect. "So be it."
With that, Stella charged, meeting Glauca's sword with her own and letting him throw her into a back flip. Summoning Longinus again, she threw it straight at his heart and immediately warping after it, a Brenneare Blade in her hands. Striking out with the fire enhance broadsword and managing a clean strike on the armored general. Glauca fell back, having not expected the strike from the broadsword and having expected an attack from her lance instead.
She smirked as she warped back to Clarus's side with a throw of a dagger. Both her father and brother used the weapon they warped with to attack. It was the traditional way Lucian Kings fought. But Stella had her own style of attack. Created by Alice's imaginations, her own skills with various weapons, fine-tuned against Cor and the hunts she took on and endless hours of relentless training and testing. Instead of using the weapon she threw to warp and attack, she threw a weapon to distract, harm and warp, then used another weapon to strike another attack. A form of relentless assault. It wasn't a style she used often because it was something she had reserved just for this day. She needed as much of an edge against Glauca she could get.
"Clever. And hard to guard against." Clarus praised, eyeing the General cautiously.
"Cor hated me for developing it."
"I can see why."
Glauca rose again, though he had a glowing red slash mark at his chest. Taking a stance, he charged forward. Summoning Tri-Edge again, she met the blow, squarely challenging his strength. She had trained hard for this moment. She had wanted to use her strength to save her father but he had taken that choice from her.
But she won't let Nyx or Clarus die.
Ba-thump
Eyes flashing purple, Stella pushed forward and swung out, throwing Glauca into a wall. She cast another blast of fire immediately after but he cut her fireball in half and charged back at her. Blocking the strike, she channeled her magic into the blade. Electricity crackled against her blade and Glauca disengaged too late. A loud boom and Glauca and Stella was thrown to opposite ends. Stella warped out, hanging on a far wall. Glauca had crashed into a car, her own personal car much to her dismay.
Again, not letting Glauca get his bearings, Stella threw her sword and warped, Longinus in her hands this time. Glauca only managed to deflect her sword before she came down on him with her lance. Unfortunately, he moved fast enough that her lance only managed to scrape off his shoulder armor. Caught off guard by the sudden movement, Stella couldn't move fast enough to block the swing of his arm.
She fell back towards Clarus with a yelp of pain. The armor was more than just an armor and it fucking hurt to be hit with it. She gritted her teeth. Even the Black Choker she had equipped wasn't healing her fast enough. That one hit had taken a lot out of her already.
She felt a healing potion wash over her and saw Clarus standing guard over her. He wasn't charging at Glauca, which was good and told her he himself knew of his own limits against the General. Standing up, she took up stance behind him.
"I need to draw him out of here. I can't use some of my more dangerous magic in the building without collapsing it." Stella informed lowly.
"So, a distraction and lure?" Clarus clarified, his eyes already scanning the area, looking for possible ways to plan for what she needed.
"Something like that."
"Leave it to me, then."
"Careful, Clarus." Stella spat. "If I see you dead, I'm going to knock down Death's door, drag you out kicking and screaming and kill you again myself."
Clarus paused. "Well. That's a strange encouragement but I suppose I'll take it."
Stella huffed. "What do you need?"
"Do you have any magic flasks?" Clarus inquired, tensing when Glauca rose from where he had tossed Stella away.
"…Yes?"
"Do you think you could charge it with lightning and fire?"
"How strong?" Stella questioned curiously.
"Thundaga and Firaga."
Stella took a moment to asses her magic stores, before epiphany hit her about what Clarus was about to do. It had been a story her father had told her before about Clarus and Cid's reckless use of magic during their adventures. A story where Clarus and Cid used an overpowered Dualcast magic made of thunder and fire to blow an almost invincible magitek armor to kingdom come. Her father had been exasperated. She and Noctis found it an amazing use of magic.
"… You brilliant reckless man."
"I live to please, Princess."
May 16th, M.E. 756 – Insomnia, Cavaugh, Kingdom of Lucis [Night]
General Glauca burst from the ground in an explosion of lightning and fire magic. He crashed against the building near the Citadel and Stella warped after him. Clarus, who had suffered a few injuries from his distraction followed after using the stairs instead. The few daemons that had appeared after night had fallen were no match for him even while injured.
Stella warped into the smoking hole in the building. Landing on the floor Glauca had crashed into, she looked around confusedly. She could not sense or see the Niflheim general anywhere. Narrowing her eyes, she cautiously made her way to where the debris of fallen walls sat. Seeing nothing in the rubble, she cursed and glared at her surroundings. Running towards the open door she tried to see any sign of Glauca.
"Damnit!" Stella cursed, not finding any trace of the man that she wanted dead.
Rushing back, she went to the hole in the wall to warp back down to the landing in front of the Citadel. She had to find Glauca before he found Nyx. Looking around, she saw bullet ridden bodies littering the streets and clenched her fists in anger. Her home, in ruins. Her people, dead.
Niflheim will get its just desserts, not just by Ardyn's ploy.
Shaking her head, she reached to activate the ear piece that had been turned off when the fighting started. The communications would be down because there was no longer anyone manning the communications tower but she hoped whoever had been manning it had left the lines open. For a few seconds, her heart pounded in fear when all she heard was static. Then, a brief noise.
" –ess!"
Growling, she tried tapping on the ear piece, hoping that it would clear the static and let her hear whoever it was that had picked up on her. Clarus had finally reached her, looking a little bit worse than when she left him to chase after Glauca after he got blasted out of the parking lot. He must have encountered some deamons, though it looked like he took care of them with only little difficulty. The former Shield shook his head at her worried look, gesturing to the empty potion bottle in his hand, telling her he had already taken a potion.
Finally, the static cleared up with a click.
"PRINCESS!" A chorus of people yelled through the ear piece.
"Ow!" Stella yelped and pulled the ear piece away from her ear, rubbing at it and hoping it would alleviate the pain. Clarus looked like he wanted to laugh as he had definitely heard the calling of her title from the ear piece as well.
"Well." Stella drawled, bringing the ear piece back to her ear, though she held it to her ear instead of putting it back in, not wanting to suffer from her ear drums bursting. "I'm glad you're all safe and sound."
"Yeah, most of us got out safely from the fleet." Stella recognized Tredd's voice answered her.
Dread settled in her heart. "…Most…?"
"… There were traitors among the Glaives… Nyx said you knew…?" Pelna asked hesitantly.
"I only knew of Luche… I had suspected but… There really were more…?"
"Yes… Axis and a few others… I think nine in total." Tredd told her.
Taking a deep breath and pushing away her feelings of betrayal, disappointment and sadness, she calmly asked to be filled in on what had happened after their mission while she had been fighting against Glauca.
After downing the Imperial fleet, the loyal Kingsglaive sans Nyx who had accompanied Luna returned to the city edges. They met up with Monica of the Crownsguards coincidentally and was drafted to help protect the citizens as night began to fall during the evacuation. They had had to resort to stealing Niflheim's guns when they could no longer warp or use their magic, but gamely tried their best to get the citizens to the safety zones she had set up in the three regions. They were all out of the city by now.
"Are you still in Insomnia?!" Sonitus Bellum hollered angrily when he realized she was still in the city, but she could hear the worry in his voice.
"I am. I'll be fine. I already have an escape route so don't worry about me. I'll meet up with all of you sometime soon at Prairie Outpost. Please. Stay safe, all of you."
"Understood." Came a chorus of voices.
Stella tried to reach Nyx right after, but nothing but static came through. She cursed in frustration.
"We should make our way out of Insomnia as well, Stella." Clarus advised and she shook her head.
"You go. There's a car parked outside the East Gate, near the ruined outposts right after the bridge but before the entrance checkpoint. I've had a path secured to Hammerhead. Meet up with Cor and call me if he's alright." Stella requested, already striding towards Sector D. She could remember the buildings of where Nyx had asked for the assistance of her ancestors. If she couldn't kill Glauca before he meets Nyx, then she wanted to at least get there before Nyx has a reason to ask for help from her ancestors.
"I'm not leaving you here, Stella." Clarus informed sternly.
"And you're also helping no one by staying here, Clarus." Stella turned to glare at him. "I can take care of Glauca. It's what I've been training to do for years ever since that day in Tenebrae. You saw me match him. I'll be fine."
"I know." Clarus sighed. "I know you can defeat him, Stella. But I don't want you to get so obsessed with killing him that if you fail…"
"I won't." Stella affirmed.
"Stella…"
"I won't fail!" Stella lashed out, her eyes flashing purple. "I may care for a lot of people, Clarus. But none of them come close to my heart as the people I love. I've already lost my father but I managed to save you and I will save Nyx."
Ba-thump.
"I won't fail…" She whispered softly, her glowing purple eyes to the ground. "I can't fail."
Ba-thump.
With that, she turned away from Clarus, heading intently to Section D. With defeated shoulders, Clarus watched as his friend's daughter walk away. Closing his eyes with a sigh, he tightened his grip on the broadsword he had borrowed from Stella and made his way to the East Gate. Right now, he could do nothing for Stella. But he would be ready for when she needed him after this entire mess was over with and hoped she would still shine brightly even after her loss.
He despaired at his own thoughts. He had never been much of an optimist.
May 16th, M.E. 756 – En route to Sector D, Insomnia, Cavaugh, Kingdom of Lucis [Night]
Stella raced through the streets on the bike she had found and hotwired. Avoiding the daemons, not because she couldn't take them but because she had no time. She could see the Imperial ships dropping off daemon after daemon into the city, wrecking it to ruins. She wanted nothing more than to blast the ships from the sky but knew that wasn't the priority right now. Buildings could be rebuilt, but Nyx's life could not.
She had to find Nyx. She had to make it in time. She couldn't save her father. If she couldn't even save one of her closest friends… How was she supposed to save Noctis?
Stella knew her work had saved thousands within the city. And while she was happy about her plan working, that her people were safe, she wanted so much more for the people close to her heart to survive the night. She might care for a lot of people but the people she loved…
Noctis, Ravus, Luna, Cor, Crowe, Nyx, Libertus. Seven people. Her father had already died and the only thing keeping her from breaking down was the thought of saving Nyx. She would keep her loved seven people at that number. Seven. No lower. She had to. She couldn't bear to lose another person that she loved. Her father was enough.
Cranking the accelerator, she tore through the streets. She would make it. She would make it, damn it!
In her haste, Stella didn't notice the beam of red light heading straight towards her. It was too late when she finally did notice it. She swerved the bike harshly to avoid it and lost control of her bike, falling off of it as it crashed into a building. Her head hit the pavement harshly and a loud crack told her she had broken something in her landing. Her eyes grew blurry and her mind fuzzy as she tried to concentrate, trying to find what had attacked her and struggling not to lose consciousness.
Black boots entered her vision and she struggled against the darkness threatening to consume her. She saw familiar unique clothes and deep red hair before she fell unconscious with a panicked realization that her attacker was Ardyn.
Blue fire, flickering in darkness.
"Show yourselves, Kings of Lucis."
Shadows of Kings past. Judging worthiness.
"The cost is a life. His… or hers."
Nyx, expression determined. Regret. Love. Helplessness. Hope.
"My life belongs to my princess. It is for her sake, her vision of the future that I will die for."
Acceptance. Worthy. Regret.
"The price for it will be your life."
Relief. Affection. Regret. A pained smile.
"Give my regards to the prince and princess."
Luna. Knowing. Gratefulness. Regret. Sorrow.
"The future will be safe, I swear it."
Libertus. Hope. Joy. Worry. Determined.
"We'll settle up, once you're back in Galahd."
Power. The Old Wall. The Kings of Lucis.
"I'm not fighting to save Insomnia."
Battle. Determination. Hope. Confusion. Anger.
"How could you serve the empire? After everything they did!"
Relief. Regret. Sadness. Love. Helplessness. Hope.
"Sorry, Princess. Gonna have to bail on that date."
"NYX!"